Sunday 29 Mar 2026
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu speaks during 'Espresso with Raees’ on March 28, 2026. (Photo/President's Office)
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced a new initiative to introduce a recall mechanism for elected officials within the Maldives. This proposed legislation aims to provide voters with the authority to initiate the removal of parliamentarians and local councilors from office before their mandated terms conclude. By creating a process for constituents to hold their representatives accountable for poor performance or failure to uphold legal duties, the administration seeks to improve overall government efficiency and responsiveness to the public interest. The proposal has been presented as a vital component of the government's broader legislative agenda to enhance democratic accountability and ensure that elected representatives remain answerable to their constituents throughout their tenure.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says he plans on proposing legal provisions to introduce a recall mechanism which will empower voters to remove parliamentarians and councilors from office before their term expires.
In an appearance on SanguTV’s ‘Espresso with Raees’ show on Saturday evening, President Muizzu said that introducing a recall mechanism for parliamentarians and councilors is part of his administration’s legislative agenda.
He said that introducing a recall mechanism would allow voters to remove parliamentarians and councilors who perform poorly or fail to uphold their legal duties, instead of having to wait for the next elections.
“This means that if the performance of members of the Parliament or council members goes down, or if they fail to do what is required of them by law, then the people can gather a specific number of signatures and file a petition, and remove them from office by gathering a specific number of votes,” he said.
President Muizzu said that this will allow both the Parliament and councils to be held accountable.
“We hold the presidential elections and the parliamentary elections on the same day, elect parliamentarians, and if they fail to meet the criteria set by law during their term, then the people have the opportunity to remove them,” he said, describing the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s argument that the proposal by his administration to synchronize presidential and parliamentary elections would affect accountability as “lacking substance.”
“It will enable the Parliament, councils and the government to function more efficiently. Elections will be held with the full participation of the people, freely and fairly, in the full sense of the word, and with a high turnout,” he said.
Though President Muizzu said he plans to propose introducing a recall mechanism, he did not say when.
